For Sydney Bechet

For Sydney Bechet is a tribute poem to a Jazz player in New Orleans (Sidney Bechet). Bechet's playing is described as bringing the City to life at night as well as other things.

Stanza 1

Bechet is immediately introduced bringing the area alive as if his music puts life into what it affects. "That note you hold, narrowing and rising, shakes like New Orleans, reflected on the water. Furthermore when Jazz is played it is deemed appropriate to behave how you like, "And in all ears appropriate falsehood awakes.." This is used to show that the music has an effect on anybody who hears it indoctrinating them into loosing there inhibitions.

Stanza 2

In the next stanza the French quarter of New Orleans comes alive and dancers help the music comes alive. "Building for some a legendary Quarter of Balconies, flower-baskets and quadrilles". Freedom in New Orleans is highlighted in the last line " Everyone making love and going shares--"

The rest of the poem is very similar throughout until the end where the music begins to end. The regular rhyme scheme represents how the music could have been played at the time, a steady beat was usually introduced to start of a 'jam session'.